As the words fell, Ji Yuanlong’s feet pressed down with force, and he shot up like an arrow.
In an instant, he ascended to the seventh thousand steps, leaving Nan Yunting and the others far behind.
Witnessing this, the onlookers outside the Star Gazing Tower let out gasps of astonishment.
“Heavens, they can still speed up? This is truly incredible!”
“The spiritual pressure at the seventh thousand steps of the Heavenly Stairway is terrifying.”
“Yet they can still advance as if unaffected. The prodigies in the top ten of the Eastern Continent's Heavenly Pride Ranking are too formidable!”
…
On the fifth thousand steps, Liúmù Míng, Bái Tíng, and Mò Qiān looked on with surprise.
Liúmù Míng pouted and grumbled, “Damn it, are those guys in a hurry to reincarnate? There’s no spirit fruit for first place, and they have plenty of time. Might as well take a nap!”
He then took a bite of his spirit fruit.
Hearing Liúmù Míng’s complaint, Bái Tíng couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
“Nap? You’re either eating spirit fruits or dozing on the steps whenever you’re on the Heavenly Stairway. Is this all you aspire to?”
Liúmù Míng chuckled at Bái Tíng’s reprimand, “I call this conserving energy. There won’t be any chance to rest once we reach the Ascension Platform.”
Bái Tíng shot him an exasperated glance.
“Uh, Liúmù Míng, Bái Tíng, I’ve always wanted to ask, what exactly are you two here for in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition?”
Mò Qiān, seeing that the two seemed unconcerned with competing, couldn't help but inquire.
However, Liúmù Míng and Bái Tíng turned their heads simultaneously and replied.
“Of course, to have fun.”
“Of course, to supervise him.”
Mò Qiān’s mouth twitched.
He thought to himself, *Dean Liú, how did you select such a pair of oddballs? Is the Four Symbols Academy that desperate?*
He grumbled inwardly.
Now, only he and Xīn Cí took the Eastern Continent Grand Competition seriously.
“Speaking of which, where is Xīn Cí?”
Mò Qiān looked back down the steps but couldn’t find Xīn Cí’s figure. His brow furrowed as he spoke.
Bái Tíng and Liúmù Míng also looked around, but Xīn Cí was nowhere to be seen.
“What the heck, when did that guy Xīn Cí get to the six thousand steps? It’s been a day!”
Liúmù Míng exclaimed, his eyes wide.
None of the three had noticed when Mù Qīngqíng had overtaken them.
Meanwhile, at the summit of the Heavenly Stairway, Ji Yuanlong, Nan Yunting, and the other leading prodigies finally began to slow down.
Beyond the eight thousand steps, the space on the Heavenly Stairway became extremely narrow.
Even for Ji Yuanlong and the others, the immense pressure began to take its toll.
Each person felt as though they were carrying a mountain, struggling to breathe, sweat beading on their foreheads, and fatigue etched on their faces.
By the ninth thousand steps, Ji Yuanlong and Nan Yunting’s clothes were soaked with sweat.
“Ji Yuanlong, you won’t surpass me again!”
Nan Yunting gritted his teeth, unleashing his top-grade spiritual artifact, the Cloud Thunder Sword.
The Cloud Thunder Sword hummed, emitting auspicious light that enveloped Nan Yunting, causing his form to surge once more and his aura to climb, propelling him past Ji Yuanlong.
Seeing this, Ji Yuanlong sneered, thinking to himself, *Hmph, you? Trying to surpass me? Dream on!*
He was not to be outdone, summoning his top-grade spiritual artifact, the Floating Life Jade Ring.
The Floating Life Jade Ring emitted a pale green glow and a gentle aura that constantly circled him.
The pressure on Ji Yuanlong immediately lessened, and he increased his speed again.
Below, the others could only vaguely discern two streaks of light flashing and weaving, unable to see clearly.
After passing the nine thousand steps, Wàn Shūwén, Xuě Qiānwǔ, and the others could no longer increase their speed, forced to watch Ji Yuanlong and Nan Yunting chase each other on the Heavenly Stairway.
Wàn Shūwén sighed, "Alas, the top two prodigies of the Eastern Continent are indeed extraordinary!"
Xuě Qiānwǔ nodded gently, agreeing with Wàn Shūwén.
As Nan Yunting and Ji Yuanlong continued their pursuit on the Heavenly Stairway, their speed gradually diminished.
With only the last hundred steps remaining.
Ji Yuanlong maintained his fastest pace, neck and neck with Nan Yunting, even slightly ahead.
This ignited a surge of anger and humiliation within Nan Yunting.
"I don't believe that I, Nan Yunting, am inferior to you, Ji Yuanlong!"
Nan Yunting roared, his veins bulging.
He condensed lightning in his hand, forming a Fang Tian Ji (halberd) which he swung at Ji Yuanlong.
"Torrential Thunder · Thunder Dragon Fang Tian Ji!"
Nan Yunting unleashed his strike, tearing through the air.
The lightning-formed Fang Tian Ji roared like a thunder dragon, its fangs bared and claws extended, majestic and powerful.
Ji Yuanlong’s expression remained unchanged as he unleashed a flurry of palm strikes, sending ripples of spiritual energy outward.
"Myriad Transformation Art · Formless Repulsion!"
The two forces collided, creating a colossal shockwave.
Both men were forced back more than ten steps, steadying themselves and exchanging sharp glances.
"Let's see how long you can last!"
Nan Yunting's face contorted as he charged at Ji Yuanlong again.
Ji Yuanlong sneered, a curve of disdain on his lips, "You'll never win against me, you trash! You insignificant ant!"
Hearing this, Nan Yunting’s face turned grim.
This guy was truly asking for death.
The two engaged in a fierce battle on the ninety-ninth hundred and ninetieth step. Although Ji Yuanlong held a slight advantage, Nan Yunting was no easy opponent.
With only nine steps left to reach the summit, neither man would yield, and they remained locked in a stalemate on that single step.
"I will not let you ascend easily! Ji Yuanlong!"
Nan Yunting roared, continuing his assault on Ji Yuanlong.
"Hmph! Then let's see who laughs last!"
Ji Yuanlong scoffed dismissively.
Just as their auras surged and their battle intensified.
A figure calmly ascended from below the Heavenly Stairway, head down, walking directly between Nan Yunting and Ji Yuanlong without acknowledging them.
Ji Yuanlong and Nan Yunting, who were in the midst of their fight, both changed expression slightly upon seeing this.
The crowd outside the Star Gazing Tower was stunned.
"What in the world? When did that brat Xīn Cí reach the ninety-ninth hundred and ninetieth step?"
Liú Yuánhào exclaimed.
He had only shifted his attention for a moment, and upon looking back, he saw Xīn Cí on the ninety-ninth hundred and ninetieth step, which sent a shock through him.
In an instant, he had surpassed Ji Yuanlong and Nan Yunting.
Others couldn’t believe their eyes either.
"How could this be?"
"When did this brat get up here?"
Everyone speculated.
On the Heavenly Stairway, Nan Yunting and Ji Yuanlong stopped fighting simultaneously, staring in disbelief as Mù Qīngqíng ascended to the summit.
They shared the same question in their hearts.
"Who is this kid? When did he get here?!"
Mù Qīngqíng seemed to notice their gazes and turned her head, completely unaware of the astonishing feat she had accomplished.
She simply looked up blankly at Ji Yuanlong and Nan Yunting.
“Hey, why have you stopped? Continue fighting, keep dancing!”
“I won’t disturb you any further. Carry on! Carry on!”
She waved at Ji Yuanlong, then stepped forward and continued towards the summit of the Ascension Stairway.